FF to look at contesting elections in North

Fianna Fáil is to establish a committee looking at the possibility of extending the party into Northern Ireland, it emerged today.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is expected to announce details of this special group at the party's think-in tomorrow.

Chaired by Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern, it will explore how the party could advance in the north.

While a Fianna Fáil spokeswoman neither confirmed nor denied this could lead to a merger with a political grouping north of the border, there is speculation that an eventual link with the SDLP is being considered.

An SDLP spokesman would not comment tonight other than to say there was room for "political realignment" within the north and between the north and south.

A Fianna Fáil spokeswoman said: "There is already individual (Fianna Fáil party) membership in the North, but this is looking to where we can move onto from that."

"From my information, the committee is just about to be formed, so they're not drawing any conclusions as to where they're going to end up yet.

"It's a case of not ruling anything out," she said.

A possible link between the SDLP and Fianna Fáil has been mooted in the past.

In 2003, Tom Kelly, a leading figure with the Northern party called for a fusion between the two political groupings, although not all SDLP members were in favour of the move.

Down to just 16 seats after the Assembly elections and with just one ministry in the power-sharing executive, its popularity among voters has waned since the days of John Hume and Seamus Mallon.

Fianna Fáil said the committee was being set up to look at the party in an all-Ireland context and details will be announced by the Taoiseach during his keynote address at the party's Co Wicklow think-in tomorrow.

Asked to comment on the formation of such a group, an SDLP spokesman said: "The SDLP has always taken the view that once the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement were up and running again, there would be a potential for political realignment within the north and between north and south.

"As the party which was the pathfinder for our new political arrangements, the SDLP will be ready for the challenge or opportunity of such a future adjustment, when it ripens.

"In the meantime, our focus is on making the best possible contribution to people's lives and living standards, through positive representation and strong social democratic policies."

The two-day Fianna Fáil think-in takes place at the Druids Glen Hotel.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will deliver the keynote address, while the party's general secretary Sean Dorgan will focus on the next local elections and candidate selection.